Municipality Climate Adaptation Case Study Report

Climate Change and Adaptation Issues Important to West Hants
Issue
Drier Summers
High Winds
Capacity
Details
Reduced water supply – the majority of residents of
West Hants, with the exception of those living in the
two Growth Centres, depend on individual wells for
their water supply; many already experience
shortages, particularly in summer, and rely on water
haulers to supplement their supply
Increased forest fire risk is a concern, particularly in
areas of increasing residential development in the
southwestern part of the municipality.
Extended power outages and damage to buildings and
property as a result of hurricanes or high winds.
Limited municipal staff, and few with expertise in
climate change impacts and associated risk
assessment, or technical skills in mapping and GIS
applications needed to support such assessment.
Limited municipal financial resources.
4. ACAS- Related Inputs and Activities
The following is a list of the ACAS activities and projects that have taken place during the period
of the program that may have some relevance to the Minas Basin project area.
Project/Activity Description Comments on
Relevance/Usage
Interactive Workshop for
Minas Basin Area, held in
Wolfville, June 21, 2011
Presentation by Dr. Danika
van Proosdij and St. Mary’s
University students to staff of
West Hants and Town of
Briefing on ACAS program,
deliverables and timelines and
presentations by researchers
giving an overview of projects
currently underway in Minas
Basin area.
Briefing on research work to
date related to shore zone
characterization, flood
inundation and dyke
Since the program began in
fall of 2009, this was the first
briefing on the work the
researchers had been doing
and what products would be
available at the end of the
program. It was also useful to
find out the requirements for
the municipal reports which
were due in nine months.
Provided a good indication of
the type of information that
would be forthcoming at the
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